4565-4573-Health status correlates of malnutrition in Poland

The imbalance between nutritional needs and nutrients intake is more prevalent in older people than in middle-aged individuals, and malnutrition is a common condition1. Poor nutritional status (PNS) not only accelerates the ageing process but may also increase morbidity and negatively impact the course of diseases2,3. It may also prolong hospitalization, increase the costs of treatment and increase the mortality rate among older people4,5. Malnutrition is thus a significant factor, which affects the functional independence of older people6,7. In view of current demographic projections, which indicate a rise in the proportion of older Abstract. – OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to analyze health-related factors associated with poor nutritional status (PNS) of a representative group of Polish older people, based on data from the PolSenior project (the first nation-wide study of Polish senior citizens). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Nutritional status was assessed in 3751 community-dwelling older people (1770 females, mean age: 77.4±8.0 years) using the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form. Elements of comprehensive geriatric assessment (cognitive and mood screening), selected medical data were analyzed in relation to the nutritional status. These were: the number of medications, the number of chronic diseases, selected diseases potentially related to malnutrition (anaemia, stroke, peptic ulcer, Parkinson’s disease, cancer – past or present), total edentulism, use of dentures, and chronic pain. RESULTS: PNS was observed in 44.2% of participants. Female sex [OR 1.72, 95% Cl (1.452.04)], advanced age [OR 2.16 (1.80-2.58)], symptoms of depression [OR 11.52 (9.24-14.38)], cognitive impairment [OR 1.52 (1.20-1.93], multimorbidity [OR 1.27 (1.04-1.57)], anaemia [OR 1.80 (1.41-2.29)] and total edentulism [OR 1.26 (1.061.49)] were independently correlated with PNS. CONCLUSIONS: PNS in Polish elderly population is strongly related to the occurrence of European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences 2016; 20: 4565-4573